Anyone know a good "cyclist's prayer"?
 

Would like to have one to say before rides... wondering if there is one out there that carrys some tradition with it.

Not a prayer, but a mantra, MSTDASY, MSTDASY, MSTDASY* . . .

(Make Sure the Dumb Ass Sees You!!)

As we bike through the city streets, the highways and the mountain trails
Protect us Lord from
Spills and crashes
Trucks and cars whose drivers do not recognize our right to use the roads
Dogs who like to bite our shapely legs, cracks, and sharp objects that flatten our tires,
Thieves, and bikenappers who lust after our bikes
The rains and thunders
And all kinds of nasty accidents
Give us energy and the strength
To wake up in the morning and go for a bike ride
To keep us from bonking
To ride up hills and mountains
To reach our destination
Grant us the courage
To descend rapidly down the hills
To ride through the rain
To join and finish races even if we know we'll never win
May we experience the joy and ecstasy
As we are moved by the beauty of nature
As the sun and the wind caress our face
As we feel one with the bike and the road
And forget about the time
As we get in touch with the child within us
As we enjoy each other's company
As we feel we could bike forever
May we continue even as we grow old
And up to the day we die
And may you allow us to continue biking in heaven
Forever and ever
Amen

Found this one on a google search... Kinda long to memorize but would be a good reading before rides...

My prayers don't happen before a ride. They come upon me very suddenly with a "please let me survive this" motif.

+1 LOL!
Mine are often a prayer of thanks after a close call...

I just wrote this one...

Lord, protect us from harm as we go on this bike ride.
Guide us away from accidents.
Instill in us a level of awareness to thwart others who are inconsiderate to our vulnerability on the roadways.
In your name we pray...
Amen.

This is an ancient Irish prayer (with the name of Bailey I should know a few of them). I think it works well as it is, or you could flavor to taste:


An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

I only know one good prayer.

"Thank you." said silently.

A prayer requesting anything is just trying to game God's will and shows a complete lack of faith in God's omniscience and omnipotence.

Here is a good rule of thumb.
"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret."

That part always sounded too much like hills to me.

Not a prayer, but the classic sendoff: "Keep the rubber side down."

That.
Actually, if I believed God listened to prayers like that (I figure he's too busy), I'd assume he'd be offended by any that were prefabricated. If I can't think of what I want to say, I'll keep quiet.

teachme, I don't bug God with the small stuff.

Brad

My heart sings when I am on the bike. Thank you, thank you glory to you most high God. You told me you loved me because you made me when I was churning away wondering why oh why.

We occasionally revert to our favorite mantra of "Win the game of dodge-car". However, a while back I read about a couple who got tired of always wishing a safe journey to each other as a warning to watch out for crazed motorists. They began to urge each other to, "Tear up the road." I like that and it is now our standard parting wish to each other when my mate or I head out on a bike.

I'm ashamed to say when things go wrong, I call out to Jesus, but in the wrong way.
Then I need to ask forgiveness.

O God, our heavenly Father whose glory fills the whole creation,
and whose presence we find wherever we go:
preserve those who travel;
surround them with your loving care;
protect them from every danger;
and bring them safely to their journeys' end;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.


Episcopalians have a prayer for everything .
Could leave off the last line in mixed religious company .
Travelers Prayer Book , 1999

And the prayer book is in a handy travel size, available at most bookstores!
You know you are an Episcopal when you see Star Wars and reply to "May the force be with you" by saying "And You Also"

Bill the Episcopal

No prayers just constant vigilance. And thanks for another great day.

Maybe a prayer to the patron saint of travelers, St Christopher

http://www.st-christopher-medal.com/...er-protect.htm

After i was hit by the pickup truck and laying on the ground trying to breathe a person put their hand on my back asking me if i wanted to pray. The hand was putting enough pressure on my back to make it more difficult to breathe. So I said no ! hoping the person would remove their hand. It took three NO! to get them to take their hand off my back. I just didn't have enough breath to tell them to please take your hand off my back.

OH! Lord! Please help me keep my big mouth shut!

And one for work OH! Lord! Please keep these walls from crumbling down

I am sitting here thinking how ungrateful I am in not thanking Him for His protection on the last bizillion rides. Thank you Lord!! Forgive me and continue your protection. In Jesus name Amen.

Thank you, Lord, for all the miles without an accident.
But I wanna ask just one more favor before my life is spent.
Please, Lord, just once before I turn to dust,
Let me run the wheels plumb off a city transit bus.
With apologies to Dave Dudley.

"Your will be done!"

:)

"Dear Lord, protect me on my ride and delivery me back home safe to my family". Short and sweet.

Pretty close to what I do, after I realized that I didn't thank Him enough for keeping me safe. Sometime on every ride, and not in response to a close call; I thank the Lord for keeping me safe and ask for His continued protection until I get home. Usually it is on some particularly boring stretch of road when nothing else is going on. Not really a formal prayer ... more of a conversation with a good friend.